Lag Ba’Omer injuries almost triple that of last year’s celebrations in Meron

By JUDY SIEGEL-ITZKOVICH05/19/2014

The injured suffered from burns, physical trauma, dehydration, excessive use of alcohol, violence and other harm.

A total of 826 people received medical treatment from Magen David Adom over the two days of Lag Ba’omer bonfires at Meron that ended on Sunday night – some of them seriously hurt and evacuated to hospitals in Safed and Tiberias.

The toll was almost three times that of last year, even though in 2013, the holiday began on Saturday night and was also continued through Sunday night.

The injured suffered from burns, physical trauma, dehydration, excessive use of alcohol, violence and other harm.

In addition, among those hurt in other parts of the country, one man, about 30-years-old fell from the balcony of his Tel Aviv home while celebrating the minor Jewish holiday.

Others suffered from smoke inhalation, burns and other damage.

A 10-year-old Jerusalem boy was hurt in his foot when a spray can was thrown into a bonfire and exploded.

A couple near Safed who left their two-year- old toddler in the care of a 15-year-old babysitter learned upon their return that the baby had fallen into their swimming pool, which was not locked, and had nearly drowned.

The toddler is in Rambam Medical Center after being resuscitated, but the long-term implications of the injury are not known.